Hong Kong politicians and lawyers questioned why the man behind the National Security Agency surveillance leak picked the former British colony as a refuge, noting the territory’s longstanding cooperation with the U.S. on legal and economic matters.

According to an interview with The Guardian, 29-year-old Edward Snowden, whose revelations have created a political uproar, has stashed himself in an unidentified luxury hotel in Hong Kong, a city he said he chose as the best place to hunker down given its “spirited commitment to free speech and the right of political dissent.”

But some questioned Mr. Snowden’s choice, given the city’s existing rendition treaty with the United States. “We work very closely with U.S. authorities,” said Regina Ip, current legislator and former security secretary, who described Mr. Snowden’s choice of location as “really being based on unfortunate ignorance.”

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The U.S. so far hasn’t issued a request for Mr. Snowden’s extradition. The Justice Department on Sunday said it had started a criminal investigation into the case.

“Hong Kong is the worst place in the world for any person to avoid extradition, with the possible exception of the United Kingdom,” said one lawyer who’s worked on a dozen extradition cases both in the U.K. and Hong Kong, citing a number of murder and drug smuggling cases in which Hong Kong authorities have helped render suspects back to the U.S. While an exception for political cases exists, lawyers said Monday they weren’t aware of any specific instances in which it had been tested.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 but maintains independent economic and judicial systems.

According to the terms of the rendition agreement between Hong Kong and the U.S., Beijing maintains veto power over extradition requests if such requests affect Beijing’s “defense, foreign affairs, or essential public interest or policy.”

China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment on Monday, which was a holiday in China.

Any attempt by Beijing to exercise this veto power could stir political anger in Hong Kong. “It’d be a huge political cost for them,” said lawyer Dennis Kwok, who represents the city’s legal sector in its legislature. Hong Kong has lately been home to numerous anti-Beijing protests that have filled its streets with tens of thousands of protesters, and central authorities would be wary of further aggravating any such sentiment, for fear of destabilizing the former colony.

Lawyers said Monday that any extradition request would also need to go through the city’s legal system before Beijing could intercede, a process that would likely be drawn out.

“It would surprise me very much if Beijing wanted to intervene on this case,” said Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch. “It’s a very big deal to touch on ‘one country, two systems,’” he said, referring to the principle that governs Hong Kong’s relations with the mainland. “I don’t see why they’d want to do it for something they don’t have a direct interest in.”

Another option for Mr. Snowden is to apply for refugee protection in Hong Kong. Such an application might not ultimately result in acceptance of any potential claim, but it could be “a way to buy some time,” said Patricia Ho, a lawyer with Daly & Associates.

In the meantime, local politicians said they were flattered by Mr. Snowden’s choice of the city. “I’m proud he chose Hong Kong as the place that can protect him,” said Alan Leong, a lawyer who leads Hong Kong’s Civic Party. “I hope the city can remain that kind of place for many years to come.”

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